The Saints can't say they've picked Kellen Moore, but it looks like they have

It's becoming increasingly clear that after Super Bowl LIX, Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will depart to become the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

NFL Media's Tom Pelissero — while adding all the necessary qualifiers — reported Friday that the few remaining candidates in the Saints search for a head coach have all-but been told they are out: 

#Saints GM Mickey Loomis informed other candidates this morning that, while there has been no final decision, he plans to continue discussions with Kellen Moore. Moore has been working on staff; he can’t be officially hired until after the Super Bowl and another meeting awaits. https://t.co/s7lvV0z1vk

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2025

Obviously, there's nothing here that's binding. For example, Josh McDaniels was going to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts after Super Bowl LII, but backed out after the game and decided to remain in his post as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. The Colts wound up hiring then-Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich for the position instead. 

It's pretty rare something like that happens, though. Things already seemed to be trending towards Moore being the pick in New Orleans, as earlier this week both Kliff Kingsbury and Mike McCarthy were ruled out. Moore has done two interviews with the Saints, a virtual one and then an in-person conversation on Monday. If other candidates — such as interim head coach Darren Rizzi, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver — are essentially being told "don't hold your breath," it's easy to see what direction this is headed in. 

If Moore indeed is hired away by the Saints, it would mean that the Eagles would have their fourth offensive coordinator in as many years, and Jalen Hurts would be working with his fifth playcaller in six seasons. Doug Pederson was fired after Hurts' rookie season of 2020, with Nick Sirianni replacing him. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was hired to the head coach of the Colts after the 2022 season, with former quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson being bumped up to OC. Johnson struggled with his promotion and was fired after one year, with Moore picked as his predecessor. Heck, if you consider that Sirianni initially called plays in 2021 before handing the reigns over to Steichen, Hurts has had five different playcallers in five years. 

It's unclear if the Eagles would replace Moore by bumping up someone internally — such as passing game coordinator/associate head coach Kevin Patullo or running backs coach/assistant head coach Jemal Singleton — or make an external hire.